• Special Operations

  Brokk offers COTS robot for SOF applications

  23rd August 2018

  Representatives from Brokk Inc. cite recent USSOCOM calls for expanded COTS solutions to tough problems in their decision to display their Brokk 120D system at …

• Defence Notes

  UES receives US Air Force FLAPS contract

  17th August 2018

  UES has received a $41.9 million six-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract under the US Air Force's Flash and Laser Airborne Protection Systems (FLAPS) research programme, the company …

• Digital Battlespace

  Japan’s military unveils new EW system

  31st August 2018

  The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) unveiled a prototype of its new Network Electronic Warfare System (NEWS) to the public at the Fuji Firepower event …

• Digital Battlespace

  What is Five Eyes connectivity? (video)

  10th September 2018

  Five Eyes (FVEY) refers to an alliance that includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and US. These countries are bound by the multilateral UKUSA …

• Land Warfare

  US Army prepares for 2nd Security Force deployment

  30th August 2018

  When the US Army's 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) deploys, the brigade will need to be better prepared to help their partner's operate commonly …

• Naval Warfare

  Terma’s Scanter 6002 for RAN OPVs

  1st August 2018

  Terma Singapore and Saab Australia have signed an agreement for the Scanter 6002 radar for the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Sea 1180 Offshore Patrol Vessels …

• Training

  First Czech Air Force L-159T2 flies

  15th August 2018

  Aero Vodochody has successfully completed the maiden flight of the first L-159T2 aircraft for the Czech Air Force, the company announced on 9 August. The …

• Special Operations

  ONR develops wetsuit to increase navy dive time

  11th September 2018

  The US Office of Naval Research (ONR) is sponsoring work to design a wetsuit that replicates the insulating properties of animal blubber—allowing divers to swim …

• Defence Helicopter

  Two Bell 429 helicopters delivered to JDF

  20th August 2018

  Bell Helicopter has delivered two Bell 429 helicopters to the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). A third Bell 429 is scheduled to be delivered to the …

• Digital Battlespace

  Northrop’s IBCS shows long-distance capability

  21st August 2018

  Northrop Grumman's Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Battle Command System (IBCS) has  successfully demonstrated the ability to scale up and network across long distances …

• Defence Helicopter

  NZ orders NH90 simulator from CAE

  8th August 2018

  New Zealand’s MoD announced on 8 August that it had awarded a contract to CAE for a single NH90 helicopter full flight simulator. The Royal …

• Military Logistics

  Ecuadorian Army receives M28 aircraft

  13th September 2018

  PZL Mielec has delivered an M28 short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft to the Ecuadorian Army, the company announced on 5 September. The delivery is …

• Digital Battlespace

  Five Eyes acquisition struggles with private sector innovation

  13th September 2018

  Members of the Five Eyes alliance have in recent years attempted wholesale reform of their acquisition processes to speed up the fielding of new capabilities. …

• Military Logistics

  GAO highlights DoD planning deficiencies

  20th August 2018

  The US has not yet incorporated leading practices of a strategic management planning framework in Department of Defense (DoD) retrograde and reset guidance. That deficiency, …

• Defence Helicopter

  US Army backs technology 'candidate concepts' on helicopter trio

  19th September 2018

  The US Army has made clear its intention to further develop newer technologies across Boeing's major helicopter platforms, the AH-64 Apache, CH-47 Chinook and the A/MH-6M …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• Light attack, Trainer

  PC-21 (Project Air 5428) [Australia]

  The new PTS, including aircraft, flight training simulators and learning environments is being acquired from a single capability contractor, Team 21, which consists of Lockheed ...

• Transport, Transport/tanker aircraft

  Project Air 7404 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement Australia is thinking ahead to an enlarged transport fleet to replace the current C-130Js. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was the second ...

• Fighter - multirole

  F-35A (Project Air 6000 Phase 2A/B) [Australia]

  Programme Background The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) took delivery of 18 F-35A aircraft as of March 2020 and the remaining aircraft are expected to ...

• Military UAS - HALE

  MQ-4C Triton (5-6) [Australia]

  Background Four Contracted Units In the summer of 2020, Northrop Grumman announced that the Australian Government provided $333 million for three MQ-4C Tritons and associated GCS. ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  Medium Range Air Defence [Australia]

  Background Faced with a growing threat from China and a vast land and sea territory to protect, Australia is seeking to establish a medium-range ground-based ...

• Patrol boats

  Evolved Cape Class (13-14) [Australia]

  Programme Background Austal was awarded a contract to build six 'Evolved'Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on 1 May 2020 (see separate ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) [Australia]

  Background Older Efforts On 23 April 2021, the US State Department's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) approval announcement revealed that Australia had requested to buy up ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Project Air 7003 [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirement The Royal Australian Air Force has been without a UAS capability since the Heron was withdrawn in mid-2017. According to Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, ...

• OPVs

  Arafura Class (Project SEA 1180) (1-6) [Australia]

  Programme Background Australia's new class of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV), the Arafura-class, will replace the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN) fleet of Armidale and Cape-class patrol ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-28 Ghost Bat [Australia]

  Background Goal As stated by the Head of Air Force Capability, Air Vice-Marshal Robert Denney, in March 2022, the Ghost Bat will be an "operational system ...

• Loitering munitions

  Mission Talon Strike [Australia]

  Background Request for Tender (RFT) On 19 May 2025, the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), an agency aimed at streamlining defence invocation for the Australian Defence ...

• Military UAS - small

  VTOL UAV [New Zealand]

  Background Defence Capability Plan (DCP) In April 2025, the New Zealand government published the DCP, a document that is essentially a blueprint for what procurements ...

• Trainer

  Hawk 127 Replacement (Future Lead-In Fighter Training System- Project Air 6002 PH1) [Australia]

  Programme Background Requirements The RAAF is seeking a future solution that provides a ‘relevant, adaptable, affordable and safe LIFTS out to 2050’ for training pilots ...

• Military UAS - small

  DEF129 (Tactical UAS) [Australia]

  Programme Background Programme Announcement The Australian Army announced the Project Land 129 Phase 3 programme in 2017. This announcement led to the release of an industry ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  Harpii Szpon (Loyal Wingman) [Poland]

  Background Market Evaluation On 6 November 2023, speaking at the IQPC International Fighter Conference (IFC) 2023 in Madrid, Major General Cezary Wiśniewski, the Deputy General Commander of the ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• Air: Integrated Defensive Systems

  Air-5416 Project Echidna

  Air-5416 Project Echidna was an initiative launched in 2001 by BAE Systems for the Australian DoD. Its goal was to overhaul the self protection systems ...

• Trainer

  King Air trainer

  Textron / Beechcraft King Air trainers are a family twin-engine aircraft based on King Air 90, 100, 200 and 350 utility aircraft. The King Air ...

• Air: helicopter flight simulators

  Australian Defence Force MRH90 Training

  As prime contractor for the ADF's MRH90 training programme, CAE has provided two MRH90 full-flight mission simulators (FFMS), training facilities and engineering and support services. ...

• Air: air combat simulators

  RAAF Hawk Mk 127 FMS

  Under subcontract to BAE Systems, CAE is designing and manufacturing three Hawk Mk 127 full-mission simulators (FMS) for the Royal Australian Air Force that will ...

• Military UAS - mini

  Wanderer

  The Wanderer is a low-altitude, low-cost, long-endurance UAV produced in-house by the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) Jericho Disruptive Innovation Group and the Australian Government's Defense Science ...

• Light attack

  Hawk 200

  The Hawk 200 is a single-seat light attack iteration of the Hawk 100 (see separate entry) and Advanced Jet Trainer or AJT (see separate entry). ...

• Military UAS - MALE

  MQ-28A Ghost Bat

  The MQ-28A Ghost Bat is a loyal wingman-type, Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), MALE fixed-wing drone being developed by Boeing Defence Australia. Its development began in ...

• Military - USVs

  Bluebottle

  Bluebottle is a persistent, autonomous, uncrewed surface vessel from Ocius Technology in service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). In ...

• Air: UAV simulators

  Predator Mission Trainer (PMT)

  The CAE Predator Mission Trainer (PMT) is an integrated platform that combines the features of CAE's UAS mission trainer with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' Predator-specific ...

• Maritime patrol

  Challenger 604

  Bombardier Challenger CL-604 MPAs are in service with the Royal Danish Air Force and the Korea Coast Guard. The first of three Danish aircraft entered ...

• Military UAS - micro

  Phantom 4 (Series)

  Designed for aerial photograph applications by DJI, the Phantom 4 series of UAVs includes the Phantom 4 Pro, Phantom 4 Pro V2.0, Phantom 4 Advanced ...

• LTVs - 4x4

  Hawkei

  Thales Australia developed the 4x4 Hawkei for the Australian Army's Land 121 Phase 4 Protected Mobility Vehicle – Light (PMV-L) project.  The prototype was unveiled in ...

• Air: COMINT and ELINT systems

  AN/ALR-2001

  BAE Systems’ AN/ALR-2001 Electronic Support Measure (ESM) is thought to be based on Israel Aerospace Industries’ (IAI) Elta Systems division’s EL/M-8382 ESM. The AN/ALR-2001 is ...

• Air-to-surface missiles

  AGM-88E AARGM

  The AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) is a supersonic, medium-range, air-launched tactical missile compatible with US and allied strike aircraft. Designed to upgrade the AGM-88 ...

• Military UAS - mini

  M Solar-X

  First revealed in August 2020, in February 2024, at its symposium, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) showcased the M Solar-X. This solar-powered fixed-wing drone was ...